Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-03-03
EXECUTION OF MRS. DRUSE.
Before Explating Her Crime She Makes
q Full Confession.
Some Account OF the Crime and the
Efforts Made 10 Save Her
From the Gailows.

BUFFALO, N. ", March IA dispatch
from Herkimcr says that Mrs. Roxalana
Druse, was hanged In the Jail yard at the
rear Of the county jail at noon Yesterday.
Only the twenty-seven spectators allowed
by law were present,
The drop fell at 1901 y, IN. After
hanging six minutes, she was pronounced
dead. Sunday morning Mrs. Druse made
confession TO DR. Powell. She states
that Charles Gates instigated her to get
rid OF her husband, and gave her u pistol
with which TO shoot him at the first
favorable opportunity, On the morning
Of the murder her husband raised an axe
to strike, and she ran into the pantry.
She says; II got the pistol and came out,
MY husband was sitting down nj the
table, and he sworc awful about the tea
and sugar raised the pistol and shot
| hit him In the neck and only stunned
him Gates then shot through the win
dow and Druso fell to the floor, Gatcsa
then shot again. | only shot once, took
the AK and cut his head of and chopped
him up. His head was taken TO tho
woodshcd and put In n lot OF huckwhcat
The body was all burned up. Mrs Drusc
said she killed her husband because she
could not stand II any longer. He was
n brute"
The dlabolical character OF the crime
and the strenuous efforts which were put
forth TO save the female principal from
the gallows have combined TO make the
execution one of almost national interest
Told In detail the history would make a
bulky and sensational volume. Briefly
summarized, the history OF the case Ia
ths The Druso family comprised the
victim, George Druse, his wife, u dangh'
ter. aged 10; son, George, aged 10; a
nephew, Frank Gates, aged a. The
family resided on farm, The day OF the
murder quarrel occurred between the
husband and wife at the breakfast table.
The wife left tho room while the victim
continued at his breakfast. In few
moments Mrs Drusc returned with n
loaded revolver concealed under her
apron. She whispered TO the boys 10
leave the room, The door had scarcely
closed behind them, when Mary, the
daughter. who had remained behind,
crcpt up around her father aud threw u
rope around his neck, AT the same mo,
mont, the mother and wife discharged
the revolver twice, each shot taking Of.
feet In the unfortunate mans chest Ho
fell over sideways In his chair His wife
but II missed fire, She then called In tho
boys, George and Frank, and giving the
revolver TO the latter, compelled him UNI
der threat Of killing him, TO fire II three
times. Each shot took effect and the
victim rolled Off the chair to the floor,
Then the most liendish phase of the crime
was commenced. Selling an axe, Mrs.
Duse commenced chopping upon the
neck OF tho corpse until the head was
| severed from the body. The head and
| the body were then taken into the parlor
and for eighteen hours thereafter the
| family devoted themselves TO the task or
carving up the corpse, burning some or
| the fragments In the stove and feeding
! others 10 the hogs BY this means all
signs Of crime were made TO disappear, but
murder will out, and the absence OF Drnsc
| from his accustomed haunts led TO an IN
vcstigation, and little by little the mys-
terry was unravellod until the horrible
story In its entirety was revealed The
entire family was arrested, but the two
| bows escaped on account of their youth.
| Mrs. Druse and her daughter were
promptly convicted the former being
sentenced to death and the daughter to
State prison for life.
Notwithstanding the diabolical nature
| Of the crime, however, the natural re-
pugnancc on the part OF many people
| to the idea Of hanging woman be-
gan TO manifest itself soon after the
| conviction. Petitions In favor OF
| communication were sent 10 Gov
| ernor Hill by the various womcn's associ'
ations Of many states and so much pres.
sure was brought to bear upon the execu-
tive that respite until to-day was finally
granted In order that the legislature might
| act upon u measure abolishing capital
punishment In the case Of women. This
bin was defeated recently, and the gov
ernor then announced that he would not
again interfere When the news was
communicated to the condemned woman,
she broke down for the first time and
wept bitterly. The black dress which was
worn at the execution she made with her
own hands.
The law passed by the legislature on
Thursday last regulating admission to
executions was carried into effect for tho
| first time to-day. 1t provides that but
twelve reputable citizens, together with
seven deputy sherlffs, two physicians, two
ministers Of the gospel, the county judge,
district attorney, county clerk and sur
rogatc shall be permitted to witness the
execution OF amurdcrer